Splinter protection with optical and thermal functionality

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a curtain which is suitable as shatter protection and has optical and thermal functionality. Curtains of this type are required in particular in order to protect buildings for example during terrorist attacks. This fundamentally relates to any type of building, in particular however, office buildings with large areas of glass. 
     The fundamental concept of the present invention is to provide curtains which absorb the huge amount of energy, for example of an explosion, however also irreversible damage of the curtain being able to be accepted. It is thereby essential that the curtain absorbs the acting energy and inter alia prevents any possibly occurring fragments of a glass façade being thrown into the room and being able to injure people there. The curtain is configured for this purpose as an internally situated or externally situated curtain, advantageously as a slatted curtain/shutter or even as a roller blind.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

The present application is a continuation of PCT Application No.PCT/EP2007/001045 filed on Feb. 7, 2007 that claims priority to GermanApplication No. DE 102006005509.8, filed on Feb. 7, 2006. Bothapplications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a curtain which is suitable as shatterprotection and has optical and thermal functionality.

Curtains of this type are required in particular in order for example toprotect buildings during terrorist attacks. They are required in allsorts of buildings but in particular in office buildings with largeareas of glass.

Buildings with large areas of glass, in particular office buildings, aresubject to particular dangers during terrorist attacks or also basicallyduring explosion occurrences. The reason is that normal sun protectionsystems are not stable enough, in particular non-buckling, in order toprotect the areas of glass from the pressure of the explosion wave. Inthe state of the art, there is no building curtain known, neither on theinside nor the outside of the building, which could effectively protectthe areas of glass here.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to produce abuilding curtain which combines inter alia protection against highpressures or the consequences associated therewith, in particularshatter protection, with optical and thermal functionality at the sametime.

This object is achieved by the curtain according to claim 1.Advantageous developments of the curtain are indicated in the respectivedependent claims.

In contrast to the state of the art in which efforts are made to makethe glass façades so stable that they survive explosions/terroristattacks or similar without damage, the present invention offers acompletely different route. It has recognised that it is in factachievable if, instead of making the glass façades stable, specificcomponents absorb the enormous amount of energy in that damage, evenirreversible, is accepted for them. It is therefore allowed here thatthe—often large-area—glazing is damaged. However this is where thepresent invention intervenes in that it makes available a curtain whichprevents fragments, which are possibly produced, from being able to bethrown into the room and injuring persons there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention these can be internally situated curtains,ones situated between the panes or externally situated, said curtainsenabling in addition, in the form of a blind or a shutter, sunprotection, dazzle protection, a view and daylight provision. Thesecurtains can thereby be able to be folded, folded away, moved away,rolled up and the like. However it is also possible to providestationary curtains which always remain in the protective position.

Thus it would then be possible either for the curtain constantly to be“simply left down as sun protection” or also to deploy the curtain, forexample to uncouple it, shift it, unroll it and the like, only if thesecurity situation demands it, for example in embassies.

If it is movable and weather-resistant, such a curtain can also be usedas an externally situated, stable, in particular wind-stable, curtain.This makes it possible then for the first time, even in multi-storybuildings over 100 metres in height, to deploy an externally situatedsun protection, which has not been possible to date because of the windloading. Such an externally situated sun protection in high officebuildings would offer a large energy saving potential in the trend ofthe moment for whole glass façades. The curtain according to theinvention is thus already financially viable as a result of savings inoperating costs and a smaller air-conditioning plant. Also lessventilation and air-conditioning technology has an effect on theprofitability of the curtain according to the invention via a smallerspatial requirement for shafts and channels and a correspondinglygreater rentable area. In combination with energy saving regulations,for example of the European Union, the curtain according to theinvention makes possible a small revolution in multi-storey constructionwith complete glass façades.

The curtain according to the invention achieves in addition highacceptance since at the very least it does not impair the thermal andvisual comfort of the users. For the users it also serves for thepurpose of increasing the thermal and visual comfort in the room and isconfigured to be aesthetically appealing. Furthermore, it is possible toassume functions, with the curtain according to the invention, which arenormally assumed by another component so that investment costs in theother component are then saved.

According to the invention, the curtain can be configured either as aslatted curtain/shutter or as a roller blind.

If a roller blind is used, then this can be produced advantageously froma two-dimensional woven fabric, knitted fabric and/or hosiery fabric,the latter having as fibre components glass fibres, carbon fibres,aramide fibres or combinations hereof. The fibre component can therebybe metallised, covered with plastic material, for example also vapourcoated with aluminium. Such a roller blind can be configured to be ableto be rolled and/or wound up, but this is not necessary. In certaincircumstances, also variants are advantageous in which the blind isstatic and remains permanently in its position.

If the woven fabric is metallised, then in particular the aestheticdemands of the users can be met since the optical appearance is thusimproved. In the case of a surface configuration which has a lightcolour, for example white, sun protection is improved because of thehigh reflectivity of the material. Such a blind can then absorb a loadthree-dimensionally, for example due to pressure, and serve also asshatter protection since it can intercept fragments of the glass façade.In the last case, an internally situated mounting should be implemented,i.e. on the building side relative to the glass façade. Furthermore,fibres which can be stretched with energy absorption can be used so thatthey absorb energy very well.

As an alternative, the curtain can also advantageously be configured inthe form of a slatted curtain/shutter, i.e. have a large number of barswhich are disposed in parallel and adjacent and are connected to eachother for example via strips or cables such that the individual barshang horizontally in front or behind the façade. There is generallyintended here and subsequently by bars any structure which has anelongated extension, as for example shutter slats have. Perpendicular tothis longitudinal direction, a bar of this type can have atwo-dimensional or even a three-dimensional structure/profile.

The bars can thereby be configured as static structures or alsorotatable structures similarly to a shutter.

If the shutter-like systems need not be able to be gathered up, it isnot necessary that the slats are stackable. As a result, greater freedomexists in the shaping of the profiles of the individual bars. Also forroller blind-like, fabric-like systems, greater freedom exists in theformation of the fabric (for example resistance to wear or thickness ofthe fabric) if these do not require to be able to be rolled up or woundup.

For the shutter-like or slat-like curtains, there are now variousadvantageous development options in order to make these insensitive tohigh pressures or to ensure shatter protection.

On the one hand, the slats can be made more stable by means ofadditional folds, edges, bends and/or hollow chambers or similarstructures. The starting point here is profiles, such as for example theC-slat, the Z-slat, the Genius slat and the Ganzmetallstore or even theslat systems marketed under the trade name s_enn.

There are suitable here as metals, metals such as aluminium sheet orstainless steel sheet from which the slats can be produced byroller-shaping. In this case, care should be taken that thecorresponding structures are disposed and configured such that theroller-shaping of the slats is not consequently prevented. However othermaterials, such as plastic materials, composite materials and the like,are also possible.

A further possibility for improving the shatter protection or pressureresistance resides in reinforcing the profiles at corresponding placesor completely. This can be effected for example by gluing with a foil,the gluing being intended to take place preferably at those places whichcan be glued before the roller-shaping process or also thereafter. Thismeans that places which are flat before the roller-shaping and after theroller-shaping or are subjected to pressure merely duringroller-shaping, such as for example the inside of curved surfaces orones to be curved, can advantageously be glued.

In addition to gluing with foil for reinforcing the profiles, it is alsopossible to glue these profiles before or after the roller-shapingentirely or partially with a fabric, such as for example Kevlar, inorder that fragments if necessary cannot pierce the slats. In order toenable both sun protection and explosion protection, the foil or thefabric is applied only on the inner side of the slats, i.e. on thebuilding-side surface of the slats, and a reflective orhighly-reflective surface is advantageously provided externally inaddition. There are suitable as such for example a diffuse white-paintedor even a metallic high-reflective coated surface or even aretrostructure. Also asymmetrically scattering surfaces can be usedadvantageously.

A few advantageous developments provide producing the slats fromstainless steel sheets by roller-shaping and gluing these partiallybefore the roller-shaping with Kevlar strips. The bent points mustthereby be recessed and only the surfaces which are still flat after theroller-shaping are glued. This is possible for example for the profileknown under the name s_enn, as described also in DE 101 39 583 A1.

It is also possible to glue the slats for example of a Ganzmetallstore,after roller-shaping, with a fabric such as Kevlar, not only in order toprevent fragments piercing the metal but also to increase the bendingstability. Such a variant is suitable for use as externally situated orinternally situated protective curtain which optionally can beactivated.

A further possibility for stabilising the slats or bars resides inconfiguring these as a hollow profile which is filled at least on onepart of its length or at least in regions. It is possible as a result todistribute a high initial impulse to a large surface via the viscosityof the filling. There are suitable for this purpose in particularfillings with liquids or with a gel.

However it is also possible according to the invention to fill the highprofiles with sand or the like in order to increase the inertia andbending stability of the bars.

The profiles can also be foamed, for example using a lance. There isalso suitable as material for bars of this type a metal, for examplealuminium, steel or stainless steel, or also plastic material. These canthen be combined to form a curtain comprising a plurality of stackedunits, the respectively individual stability of which is increased bythis measure.

A further possibility for increasing the stability, the pressureinsensitivity or shatter protection of the bars resides in providingspecific regions of the bars with predetermined bending points. When apressure occurrence takes place, for example an explosion, thepredetermined bending points are activated and the curtain is closedcompletely or partially. By folding down a part of the bars at thepredetermined bending point, a part of the energy from the pressure waveis absorbed in addition. The predetermined bending point can therebyhave an elastic configuration, but advantageously also a non-elastic oneso that the curtain is subsequently closed irreversibly.

As a result of bending the bars or the curtain, energy is consequentlyabsorbed in total by the deformation and the openings present in thecurtain are reduced in size so that the region situated behind is betterprotected.

The mounting of the curtain according to the invention can also bedeveloped according to the invention. The reason is that normallycurtains of this type are not guided such that the entire curtain offerssufficient resistance to bending of the curtain. However, the individualelements of the curtain are fixed, such as for example in the case ofthe Ganzmetallstore of the company Hüppebaumann. The development of thepresent invention begins here, in which the movability is completelydispensed with and the curtain is braced at the top and bottom inaddition to being fixed in a lateral guide. This has the great advantagethat deformation of the individual elements (bars, slats, fabric) of thecurtain can be allowed without there being a risk that the curtain bendsaway in its entirety. With a fixing mechanism of this type, the energyis absorbed by deformation of the entire curtain and thus the forcewhich the pressure wave exerts on the curtain as a whole and themounting is reduced. This means that the curtain is no longer torn inits entirety from its anchor.

The bracings in particular can be elastic or deformable in order thatenergy is also absorbed by the bracing if an explosion occurrence or apressure wave occurs.

Thus a part of the energy of the pressure wave is absorbed both by thedeformation of the individual elements of the curtain and also of thebracing.

A further possibility resides in bracing the curtain in a relativelyrigid frame or in a rigid frame which is configured to be so stable thatit does not deform. As a result, it is possible to prevent theoccurrence of slits in the deformed state at the sides. In this case,the rigid frame can itself be mounted again elastically or deformably.

Insofar as the bracing changes in the length thereof under the effect ofpressure, such deflection of the curtain must be compensated for by ahigher curtain. The lateral fixing of the curtain can be effected in thecase of non-movable curtains with a clamping strip or a nail strip.

For reasons of dazzle protection, care should be taken advantageouslywith all embodiments of the curtain according to the invention thatrespectively a sharp or cut, preferably sharp-edged cut edge is presentexternally at the bottom and no round or bent structure (with asignificant radius).

However also variants without these properties are conceivable but whichthen have poorer properties with respect to dazzle protection.

As a further technical measure for increasing the stability of the slatsin the case of a shutter slat, such as e.g. the C-slat, the Z-slat,slats which are known under the name Hüppelux Genius, Retroflex,Retrolux-O, Retrolux-U or Ganzmetallstore (of the company Hüppebaumann),these are glued entirely or partially with Kevlar or similar and are notguided with guide cords but with looped cords. These distort lesseasily. Looped cords of this type should be stable (e.g. metal threads,Kevlar, a fibre composite and the like). The lower rail here should thenalso be fixed in order that the curtain is securely tensioned.

In order to meet the aesthetic demands of the users, the foils used forgluing can be applied externally, i.e. not in a hollow chamber. Asurface with a wood appearance is suitable here in a particularlyadvantageous manner. The foil can advantageously be provided asoutermost layer with a real wood veneer.

For suitability of the curtain according to the invention anduser-friendliness, it is basically preferred if, in the case of theinnermost surface of the bars, the upper end is not situated furtherinwards than the lower end in order that the inside cannot be impingedupon by reflected light which is reflected upwards from the elementsituated thereunder (slat or bar). It is particularly preferred if theinner surface is vertical.

This requirement is particularly important if the bars have twosurfaces, for example a first and second surface, which are connected toeach other at their upper end. The profile of the bar in this case is aninverted V-shape. This is likewise important if for example a triangularprofile is produced with a further third surface which abuts against thelower end of the first surface. If a further surface is provided whichabuts against the lower end of the second profile, then square surfacesare possible and, when using further abutting surfaces, pentagonal andother profiles. The fourth surface can however protrude beyond atriangle formed by the first to third surface. In this case, the thirdsurface can abut with its free end on the lower end of the secondsurface or else on the lower end of the fourth surface or anywherebetween the upper end of the second surface and the lower end of thefourth surface.

In the case of such an arrangement, requirements arise, as are describedin detail in claims 10 to 22, for the arrangement of the individualsurfaces in the assembled state of the curtain.

This applies also when these surfaces are merely imaginary surfaceswhich surround the bar structures as an envelope.

A few examples of curtains according to the invention are now givensubsequently. There are thereby shown

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-14 various forms of curtains and bar profiles for curtains ofthis type and also

FIG. 15 a mounting according to the invention for the curtains accordingto the invention.

In Figures A to E, FIG. 1 shows profiles for bars for static, internallysituated applications, the profiles or the curtains not being able to bemoved away. In FIG. 1A, a curtain which has a large number of bars 2A,2B, 2C is shown. Above and below the bars 2A or 2C, further bars of thistype can be situated. The bars are connected to each other via forexample laser-welded metal strips 4 or also riveted. In the plane of themetal strips 4, the bars have a spacing 5.

As represented in FIG. 1, the corresponding profile, represented incross-section as in FIG. 1B, has in total three surfaces. A firstsurface 11 is orientated vertically, against which, starting from theupper end thereof, a second surface 12 and, immediately extending this,a fourth surface 14 abuts. A third surface 13 extends from the lower endof the first surface 11 diagonally upwards in the direction of thesecond surface 12 or of the fourth surface 14. At the point where thesurface 13 abuts on the surfaces 12 and 14, is the point whichnotionally separates the two surfaces 12 and 14 from each other. Thethree surfaces 11, 12, 13 now enclose a hollow space 16 and togetherform with surface 14 the slat 2. FIG. 1B shows here, as in thefollowing, respectively the cross-sections or profiles of the individualslats.

The surface 14 terminates externally on the right at the bottom in asharp edge 17 so that no reflection occurs there which could dazzle theuser inside the room (on the left of the slat 2 in FIG. 1B).

The spacing of the slat bars depends upon the position of use andpurpose of use. For example, in areas near the equator the sun is higherthan in temperate latitudes so that the slat bars there can have alarger spacing. Alternatively, the surface 14 can also be shorter orlonger.

A surface of this type is shown for example in FIG. 1C.

In FIG. 1D, the bar 2 of FIG. 1A or 1B is modified in that a fifthsurface 15 is provided, which surface extends along the surface 12 tothe upper end thereof starting from the outer end of the third surface13. As a result, this stabilises the entire structure and the hollowspace 16.

FIG. 1E is a corresponding structure, however the fourth surface 14, incomparison with FIG. 1D, is shorter.

The bars represented in FIG. 1 can be produced for example simply byroller-shaping.

Here as in the following, the same or similar reference numbers are usedfor the same or similar elements by all the Figure descriptions and inall the Figures.

FIG. 2 now shows cross-sections or profiles through bars 2 which aresimilar to those in FIG. 1B or 1E.

In FIG. 2A, a profile as in FIG. 1B is represented, however, the hollowspace 16 here being filled by means of a gel 18. In addition, apredetermined bending point 19 is provided between the second surfaces12 and the fourth surface 14 so that, with the effect of pressure fromthe exterior, the fourth surface 14 bends and reduces or closes theintermediate space to the slat situated next thereunder.

In FIG. 2B, the hollow space 16 is likewise closed with a gel or aliquid 18, the other profile being configured as in FIG. 1E.

In FIG. 2C, the profile form of FIG. 2D is further modified in that apredetermined bending point is configured as bead 19 between the secondand the fourth surface. Furthermore, the fourth surface 14 is glued bymeans of a foil 20 in the inside of the space.

The profiles represented in FIG. 2 are suitable for non-movable staticinternally situated applications.

FIG. 3 likewise shows profiles for non-movable static internallysituated applications.

In FIG. 3A the fourth surface 14 is thereby sub-divided into two surfaceportions 14 a and 14 b, a bending point being situated between the twosurface portions 14 a and 14 b so that these enclose an angle <180°.

In FIG. 3B, this profile shape is developed in that the hollow space 16is filled with a gel, a liquid, sand, plastic material or a foam and inaddition the surfaces of the surface regions 14 a and 14 b which areorientated towards the inside of the space are reinforced with a foil.

FIG. 4 shows further profiles which are non-movable for staticinternally situated applications. In this case, the profiles areconfigured similarly to FIG. 3A or 3B, beads 19 being provided aspredetermined bending points between the surfaces 12 and 14. The surface14 is furthermore configured divided in two parts as surface region 14 aand 14 b, these being glued by foils on their surface which isorientated towards the inside of the space. These foils described with20 a and 20 b may be applied separated from each other for therespective surface regions 14 a and 14 b (see FIG. 4B or also becontinuous as represented in FIG. 4C). FIG. 4A again shows the profilefrom FIG. 4B in the context of a curtain, again the profiles 2 a, 2 band 2 c being connected to each other and suspended via metal strips 4.

The reinforcing foil in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B can be applied before theroller-shaping process because the foil is applied only on surfaceswhich are flat both before and after the roller-shaping process. In FIG.4C, a profile is represented in which the continuous foil 20 a, 20 b canbe applied merely after the shaping process.

In both cases, during the mechanical effect, the curtain closes becauseof bending of the predetermined bending point 19. As can be detected inFIG. 4A, the fourth surfaces 14 are configured such that they closecompletely the intermediate space between individual slats 2 a and 2 bwith a given fold.

FIG. 5 likewise shows non-movable profiles for static internallysituated applications. Again a profile is thereby chosen with atriangular basic structure, constructed from a first surface, a secondsurface 11, a second surface 12 and a third surface 13 against which afourth surface 14 abuts externally. In FIG. 5B, a predetermined bendingpoint 19 is disposed between the second surface 12 and the fourthsurface 14 and the fourth surface 14 is glued and reinforced with a foil20 d. At the external end of the surface 14, the latter is bent over(reference number 21) and has a sharp edge 17 at the end thereof.

In the case of the two profiles represented in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, thesurfaces 11, 12 and 13 are glued and reinforced on the inside in thehollow space by means of foils 20 a, 20 b and 20 c.

FIG. 6 shows the profile from FIG. 5B again enlarged, but the hollowspace 16 being however filled with a filling 18 comprising liquid, gel,sand, plastic material or foam.

FIG. 7 shows further profiles for non-movable statically internallysituated applications, the cavity or hollow space 16 having nomechanical connection. The profiles in FIG. 7B correspond to that inFIG. 6, a further surface 15 however abutting against the free edge inFIG. 6 of the third surface 13 and extending parallel to the secondsurface 12. In FIG. 7A, the surfaces of the first surface 11, the thirdsurface 13 and the fifth surface 15, which are orientated towards thehollow space 16, are reinforced by gluing with foils, whilst the hollowspace in FIG. 7B is filled with liquid, gel, sand, plastic material orfoam.

FIG. 8 also shows profiles for non-movable statically internallysituated applications. Relative to the profile in FIG. 1B, the thirdsurface 13 here extends horizontally and abuts with the free end thereofon the fourth surface 14. In FIG. 8A, starting from this free end, afifth surface 15 is provided which again extends parallel to the fourthsurface 14 in the direction of the first surface 11 and terminates inthe hollow space 16.

In FIG. 8B, the third surface 13 terminates at the bending point betweenthe second surface 12 and the fourth surface 14, a fifth surface 15abutting against the free end of the surface 13 and extending parallelto the fourth surface 14, but terminating in front of the fourth surface14.

FIG. 8C shows a profile shape as in FIG. 8A, however a further surface15 b and a surface 15 c abutting against the fifth surface, designatedhere with 15 a. The third surface 13, the fifth surface 15 a and thesurfaces 15 b and 15 c again enclose a triangular hollow space 16 b.

FIG. 9 shows further profiles, a vertically downward extending fifthsurface 15 a abutting here against the fourth surface 14. The firstsurface 11, the second surface 12, the fourth surface 14, the fifthsurface 15 a and the third surface 13 thereby form a pentagon, the firstsurface 11 extending vertically and the third surface 13 extendingextensively horizontally with a slight upwards movement. The secondsurface 12 extends from the upper end of the first surface 11 downwardsand then bends in the direction of the horizontal towards the fourthsurface 14. This then merges into the vertical fifth surface 15 a.

In the interior of the hollow space 16 a, a further surface 15 b extendsupwards, starting from the free end of the third surface 13 until italmost abuts against the fourth surface 14. There it bends downwardstowards the connection point to the first surface 11 and the thirdsurface 13. The third surface 13, the surfaces 15 b and 15 c thus form ahollow space 16 b.

In FIG. 9B, this profile is varied in that the surface 15 c extendsslightly upwards, extending parallel to the fourth surface 14 up to thefirst stretch 11, and then is angled vertically downwards into thefurther surface 15 d. The hollow space 16 b enclosed by the thirdsurface 13 and the surfaces 15 b, 15 c and 15 d is square here.

This shape is further modified in FIG. 9C in that the surface 15 dcontinues again bending into a surface 15 e which extends from theconnecting corner between the surface 11 and the third surface 13 up tothe connecting corner between the third surface 13 and the surface 15 bparallel to the surface 13.

In all these embodiments in FIG. 9, a mechanical connection at thepoints between the individual profile elements or surfaces,characterised by the dotted circle, is possible.

These profiles are built upon the profile known with the descriptions_enn and can be rolled up for internally and externally situatedapplications. Basically, the cavities produced with these profiles donot require a mechanical connection. It is however conceivable that theprofiles are connected to each other with mechanical connections, suchas gluing, soldering or welding.

FIG. 10 now shows a profile, as represented in FIG. 9A, the surface 15Chowever being omitted. In this profile, a foil is applied, in FIG. 10A,on the surfaces 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 b respectively on the hollow spaceside. These foils are glued on before the roller-shaping in order toreinforce the corresponding surfaces. In FIG. 10B, the hollow space isfilled with gel, sand, plastic material or foam, as a result of whichthe rigidity, bending stability and inertia of this profile issubstantially increased. This curtain is very readily suitable asexternally situated sun protection.

FIG. 11 shows further profiles which can be rolled up for internally andexternally situated application, the profile surfaces not necessarilyrequiring to be mechanically connected in it but being able if necessaryalso to be connected, for example by gluing, soldering or welding.

FIG. 11A thereby shows a square profile which is formed by the surfaces11, 12, 13 and 14. The surfaces 11, 13, 14 are thereby extensivelyorthogonal relative to each other, the surface 14 being however shorterthan the surface 11. Between the upper end of the surface 11 and theupper end of the surface 14, the surface 12 now extends diagonally.Furthermore, a further surface 15 a extends upwards from the free end ofthe surface 13 parallel to the surface 14. The surface 14 protrudesslightly beyond the free end of the surface 13 and forms a sharp edgethere.

In FIG. 11A, the thus formed square hollow space 16 is filled with agel, a liquid, a plastic material, sand or even a foam.

In FIG. 11B, a surface 15 b extends in addition from the upper end ofthe surface 15 a to the connecting point between the surfaces 11 and 13so that the surfaces 13, 15 a and 15 b enclose a hollow space 16 b.

In FIG. 11C, the cross-section (profile) of a bar (slat) is represented,which is constructed from similar surfaces as in FIG. 11A. However fromthe upper end of the surface 15 a up to approximately the centre of thesurface 11, a further surface 15 b extends which continues from theredownwards in a surface 15 c up to the connecting point between thesurfaces 11 and 13. The surfaces 13, 15 a, 15 b and 15 c hence enclose asquare hollow space 16 b.

In FIG. 11D, the profile from FIG. 11B is developed in that now from thefree end of the surface 15 b a further surface 15 c extends parallel tothe surface 13 up to the connecting point between the surface 13 and thesurface 15 a. The surfaces 15 a, 15 b and 15 c consequently enclose atriangular hollow space 16 b.

These profiles which are shown in FIG. 11 can likewise be rolled up andare therefore suitable for movable curtains.

FIG. 12 now shows a profile which was developed from those of FIG. 1B.Between the surfaces 12 and 14 there is now situated an omega-bead sothat, when pressure is applied from the outside (from the right), thesurface 14 can bend slightly and thus close the curtain. Furthermore,the hollow space 16 is filled by means of a gel, a liquid, sand, plasticmaterial or a foam.

In FIG. 12B, the profile from FIG. 1B is developed in that the surface14 extends upwards, whilst the surface 12 extends downwards.Consequently, a rounded transition region 19 is provided at theconnecting region between the surfaces 12 and 14.

If the surface 14 also extends downwards and if it is connected to thesurface 13 or the free end thereof instead of to the surface 12, then atransition region 19 can be produced here which is rounded in the otherdirection.

Upwardly open recesses 19, as in FIGS. 12A and B, are suitable mainlyfor internally situated applications since they become dirty moreeasily. Downwardly open rounded regions 19, as in FIG. 12C, are suitablenot only for internally situated but also for externally situatedapplications.

FIG. 13 shows two further profiles, the shape of which differsfundamentally from the previously shown profiles.

In this case, the profiles comprise a Z-shaped or accordion-shapedsuccessive arrangement of a large number of individual surfaces 22 a to22 g (FIG. 13A) or 22 a to k (FIG. 13B).

The surface 22 a situated in the room interior is vertical, whilstsurfaces which are inclined alternately slightly to the right or to theleft abut against it. The adjacent surfaces are thereby connected toeach other alternately at their upper or lower end so that in total anaccordion-like absorber structure is produced.

In FIG. 13A, an eye 6 is illustrated with a viewing direction 8 and alsoa light incidence direction 7.

Whilst, in FIG. 13A, the height of the surfaces increases from theinternally situated surfaces 22 a to the externally situated surfaces 22g and thus good energy absorption is achieved whilst accepting poorerdazzle protection properties since the shiny tips of the surfaces can beseen from inside, the heights of the surfaces 22 a to 22 k, in FIG. 13B,decrease from the inside (surface 22 a) to the outside (surface 22 k).In this way, the externally situated connecting points or tips cannot beseen from the inside. The envelope 9 which delimits the surfaces 22 a,22 k at the upper end thereof, is illustrated for this purpose in FIG.13B. This envelope 9 extends at an angle α in clockwise direction(turning to the right) relative to the horizontal. This angle αpreferably is between 0 and 80°, particularly preferred between 30 and75°.

Furthermore, the envelope 9 b and the envelope 9 c are illustrated inFIG. 13B. The envelope 9 b thereby corresponds to the first surface 11which occurs in the other profiles, the envelope 9 a to the secondsurface 12 which occurs in the other profiles and the envelope 9 bcorresponds to the third surface 13 which occurs in the other profilesillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12. The same advantageous selection criteriawith respect to the orientation thereof apply now for the envelope 9 a,9 b and 9 c as for the first surface 11, the second surface 12 and thirdsurface 13, as are described in claims 5 to 17.

FIG. 14 now shows four developments of the slat structure illustrated inFIG. 13B. FIG. 14A shows this structure from FIG. 13B once again, whilsta surface 14 abuts, in FIG. 14B, on the smallest outermost situatedsurface 22 i and extends slightly upwards. The upper end of the surface22 a and the outer end of the surface 14 now represent two points on theline 9 a. The line 9 a designates that viewing direction, at which nodazzling occurs through the surfaces 22 b to 22 i and 14. Dazzling canoccur in viewing directions which are further up.

In FIG. 14C the surface 14 extends as in FIG. 14B, but slightlydownwards, a sharp edge 17 being formed here at the end thereof in orderto avoid dazzling.

Whilst in FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C both the upper ends of the successivesurfaces 22 a to 22 i are situated on a downwardly extending envelopeand also the lower ends of the surfaces 22 a to 22 i are situated on anupwardly extending envelope, the surfaces 22 a to 22 i in FIG. 14D aredisposed such that the upper ends are situated on an envelope whichextends from the inside at the top to the outside at the top. However,the lower ends of the surfaces 22 a to 22 i are disposed horizontallyrelative to each other.

FIGS. 13 and 14 thus show energy-absorbing structures which also offerdazzle protection, mainly for internally situated application because ofbecoming dirty. They can advantageously comprise painted aluminium,stainless steel, plastic material or composite materials. It isadvantageous if, as in FIGS. 14B to 14D, a light-deflecting surface 14is also incorporated, which improves the daylight provision.

The material of these energy-absorbing structures must be so ductilewith elastic deformation that it does not break or it must be elastic.In particular painted aluminium, stainless steel, other metals, plasticmaterials or also composite materials are suitable for this purpose. Allthese profiles can be produced preferably by roller-shaping.

FIG. 15 now shows examples of particularly stable bracings according tothe invention. In FIG. 15A, the individual horizontal elements (slats,bars) 33 of the curtain are connected via strips 34 a to 34 d whichextend perpendicular to the horizontal elements. These strips can bemetal, fabric (e.g. Kevlar) or plastic material strips, each of thestrips being fixed individually. As a result, the bending risk isreduced. The horizontal elements are mounted in addition laterally invertical rails 32, for example configured as in FIG. 15B, in rails 32 aor 32 b in C-profile, the horizontal elements in 32 b being fixed inaddition by nails. Such a mounting 30 makes it possible for the curtainto be retained in a particularly stable manner.

In FIG. 15C, the curtain is connected to its horizontal elements 33 a to33 h likewise via the above-described strips 34 a to 34 d in thevertical. However both the strips 34 a to 34 d are mounted on theirupper and on their lower end here and the horizontal elements 33 a to 33h on their left or right end via vertical rails 32 and horizontal rails35 a, 35 b of a stable frame. This frame can be mounted elastically, forits part, in order to ensure the energy absorption and flexibility ofthe entire curtain.

1. A curtain for the façade of a building, wherein the curtain is configured in such a manner that it is stable under the effect of large pressure forces.
 2. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein a large number of bars which are disposed parallel and adjacent and are held together by connecting means to form a two-dimensional structure.
 3. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars have hollow chambers for stabilisation on at least one part of their length or they are configured as hollow profiles.
 4. The curtain according to claim 3, wherein the hollow chambers or hollow profiles are filled at least in regions with a material.
 5. The curtain according to claim 4, wherein the hollow chambers or hollow profiles are filled at least in regions with a liquid, a gel, a plastic material, a foam and/or sand.
 6. The curtain according to claim 3, wherein the hollow chambers or hollow profiles are sealed to be liquid-impermeable and/or gas-impermeable.
 7. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars have surface regions which extend along the bars and protrude beyond the hollow chambers or the hollow profiles.
 8. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the profile or the cross-section of the bars is configured in such a manner that the bars cannot be stacked or the curtain cannot be moved away, gathered up and/or rolled up.
 9. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the profile or the cross-section of the bars is configured in such a manner that the bars can be stacked or the curtain can be moved away, gathered up, rolled up, shifted and/or folded.
 10. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars have an external contour with at least one first surface which extends in the longitudinal direction of the bars and delimits the external contour and a second surface which abuts against the first surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bars and delimits the external contour, the first surface, in anti-clockwise direction/turning to the left, enclosing an angle β with the horizontal and the second surface, in the clockwise direction/turning to the right, enclosing an angle γ with the horizontal.
 11. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein there applies for β and γ 70°≦β≦110°, advantageously β=90° and/or 0°≦γ≦85°, advantageously 45°≦β≦85°, advantageously 45°≦β≦60°.
 12. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein a third surface which delimits the external contour of the bars abuts against the first surface on the side which is orientated away from the second surface, said surface, in anticlockwise direction (turning to the left), enclosing an angle α with the horizontal.
 13. The curtain according to claim 12, wherein there applies for the angle α: −30°≦α≦90°, preferably 0°≦α≦45°, preferably 30°≦α≦40°, preferably α=0°.
 14. The curtain according to claim 10, wherein a fourth surface abuts against the second surface on the side which is orientated away from the first surface, said fourth surface, in the clockwise direction/turning to the right, enclosing an angle δ with the horizontal.
 15. The curtain according to claim 14, wherein there applies for the angle δ—60°≦δ≦60°, advantageously 0°≦δ≦60°, advantageously 0°≦δ≦25°.
 16. The curtain according to claim 12, wherein the first surface, the second surface and the third surface and possibly the fourth surface enclose a hollow space.
 17. The curtain according to claim 16, wherein the first surface, the second surface and the third surface form a hollow space with a triangular cross-section.
 18. The curtain according to the preceding claim, wherein the fourth surface (D) protrudes beyond the hollow space formed by the first (B), second (C) and third (A) surface.
 19. The curtain according to claim 10, wherein the first, second, third and/or fourth surface is formed by structural elements of the bars.
 20. The curtain according to claim 10, wherein the first, second and third surface and possibly the fourth surface represent the envelope for structural elements of the bars.
 21. The curtain according to claim 20, wherein the bars respectively have a large number of two-dimensional elements which extend in the longitudinal direction of the bars and are disposed adjacently perpendicular to the surface plane of the curtain the adjacent two-dimensional elements of one bar being connected to each other alternately at their upper edge or at their lower edge.
 22. The curtain according to claim 21, wherein the height of the two-dimensional elements reduces in the direction of the outside of the building.
 23. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars have folds, beads, edges and/or bends which extend in the longitudinal direction for stabilisation.
 24. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars are coated, in particular glued, at least in regions.
 25. The curtain according to claim 24, wherein the bars are coated at least in regions with a woven fabric, in particular made of composite material, in particular made of carbon fibres, aramide fibres and/or Kevlar.
 26. The curtain according to claim 24, wherein the bars are not coated at bending points.
 27. The curtain according to claim 24, wherein the bars are coated only or in particular on the side which is orientated away from the outside of the building in the mounted state.
 28. The curtain according to claim 24, wherein the bars are coated only or in particular on flat regions of the bars or on the concave inside of curved regions.
 29. The curtain according to claim 24, wherein the bars are coated only or in particular at those regions which are flat before and/or after roller-shaping of the bars and/or are subjected only to pressure or without tension during roller-shaping of the bars.
 30. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars have predetermined bending points at least in regions in their longitudinal direction.
 31. The curtain according to claim 30, wherein the bars have surface regions which extend along the bars and protrude beyond the main body of the bars and a predetermined bending point, in particular in the form or a bead or omega-bead, being disposed between the main body and the surface regions.
 32. The curtain according to claim 30, wherein the surface regions have a width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bars which is greater than or at least equal to the spacing of the main body of two bars from each other in the mounted state of the curtain.
 33. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars comprise plastic material, composite material, in particular fibre-reinforced plastic material, and/or metal, in particular metal sheet, in particular aluminium and/or stainless steel, or contain these materials.
 34. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein at least the surface which is orientated away from the building in the mounted state of the curtain is configured to be reflective, in particular metallically reflective, highly reflective, diffusely scattering, asymmetrically scattering, painted, in particular painted white, coated or glued with a foil, in particular a foil with a wood appearance, or coated or glued with a real wood veneer.
 35. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein at least the surface which is directed towards the building in the mounted state of the curtain is configured painted, in particular painted white, coated or glued with a foil, in particular a foil with a wood appearance or coated or glued with a real wood veneer.
 36. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the bars have, externally at the bottom, a sharp edge in the mounted state of the curtain.
 37. The curtain according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the bars which is orientated towards the building interior in the mounted state of the curtain is not situated further inwards with its upper end than with its lower end.
 38. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the bars which is orientated towards the building interior in the mounted state of the curtain extends vertically.
 39. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein a two-dimensional woven fabric, knitted fabric and/or hosiery fabric, the woven fabric, knitted fabric and/or hosiery fabric having or comprising as fibre component glass fibres, carbon fibres, aramide fibres and/or combinations hereof.
 40. The curtain according to claim 39, wherein the fibre component is covered with plastic material, metallised, in particular vapour coated with aluminium, and/or painted, in particular painted white.
 41. The curtain according to claim 29, wherein the curtain can be rolled up and/or wound up.
 42. The curtain according to claim 39, wherein the curtain cannot be rolled up and/or wound up.
 43. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is mounted at least laterally, at the upper edge and/or lower edge.
 44. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is mounted elastically and/or deformably.
 45. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is mounted laterally, at the upper edge and/or at the lower edge in rails, in particular in rails with a C-profile, clamping strips and or nail strips as mounting.
 46. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is mounted all around in a rigid or stable frame as mounting.
 47. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the mounting is elastic and/or deformable.
 48. The curtain according to claim 47, wherein the curtain is mounted all around in a rigid frame which is mounted elastically for its part.
 49. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is braced laterally, at the top and/or at the bottom.
 50. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is braced laterally, at the top and/or at the bottom elastically and/or deformably.
 51. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is braced by means of looped cords.
 52. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is braced by means of metal threads or strips, woven fabric threads or strips, in particular Kevlar threads or strips, and/or by means of threads or strips made of a plastic material or fibre composite material.
 53. The curtain according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is braced by means of strips, the curtain and the strips being riveted to each other. 